Chronic Pelvic Pain: Diagnosis and Treatment
A small camera on the end of the tube sends a picture back to a screen, allowing the doctor to see any abnormalities in your pelvic region. This is considered surgery, however, and so is used only when the doctor thinks the findings might change the course of treatment. It is not required to begin treatment.
The treatment for your pain depends on the diagnosis. The primary options are medical: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the pain, continuous oral contraceptives or a shot of Depo-Provera, a progestin contraceptive.
Another medical option is a drug called leuprolide (Lupron). This medication suppresses estrogen, essentially mimicking menopause. However, Lupron is only used for three to six months at a time because the loss of estrogen could affect bone density. One option if you need Lupron is for your doctor to "add back" supplemental progestin to help maintain bone density and alleviate some of the side effects.
While surgery to remove endometriosis tissue or scar tissue that may be causing the pain can provide short-term relief, the pain tends to return in most women within a year or two.
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